Travel Anxiety: Tips for Stress-Free Adventures
You’re looking forward to your next trip. It’s been a while since you took a vacation, and you’re so close to it finally being here.
While you’re excited, you’re equally as nervous, anxious, and stressed about it. Your bags are already packed, but you keep wondering if you’re forgetting anything. You’re going through your checklist just to be sure that you have everything you need.
While some of the things you’re worried about are things that you can control, many things are completely out of your control, like the weather, mechanical issues, or lost luggage.
The truth is that there’s a lot to worry about when it comes to traveling. And you’d be lying if you said you weren’t nervous. Traveling always tends to bring you a little anxiety, no matter where you’re heading. Here are some tips for your next stress-free adventures.
Acknowledge How You Feel
If you’re a little anxious, worried, or nervous about traveling, one of the best things you can do is to admit to yourself that you’re actually feeling that way. If you continue to try to hide or dismiss those true feelings, the longer you will feel the same way. It’s better to just admit and acknowledge those emotions, thoughts, and feelings. While it may feel a little uncomfortable, it can actually help you move forward and come up with a plan in place for tackling those feelings head-on.
Practice Relaxation Techniques
Try to become a little more proactive rather than reactive when it comes to your anxiety. You can do this by practicing some relaxation techniques before your trip so that you have a plan in place for when you’re feeling anxious. By practicing some techniques ahead of time, you can have the tools and techniques readily available when you’re on your way to the airport, trying to get through security, waiting for your flight, and when you’re traveling. Here are some of the relaxation techniques for you to try out and see which ones work best for you:
1. Affirmations
2. Body scan
3. Deep breathing
4. Meditation
5. Picture a calming image
Move Your Body
Another way you can help calm your nerves and ease some of that anxiety before your trip is to move your body. Exercise is not only good for your body, it’s extremely beneficial for your brain as well. Moving your body has been proven to reduce your stress and boost your mood. You don’t have to run for miles on end or hit up the gym for an extended period of time to see the benefits either. All it takes is getting your blood pumping and heart racing for at least thirty minutes a day. This could include activities like going to a yoga class, riding a bike, or walking around your neighborhood. If you don’t have time to hit up the gym before you travel, you can even walk around and get some steps in at the airport.
Seek Additional Support
Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with feeling a little stress and anxiety about traveling. It happens to the best of us. That being said, if your anxiety is starting to have a negative impact on your trip or your overall travel experience, you should consider seeking additional support from a licensed and trained mental health professional. Traveling can bring a mixture of emotions. We’ll help you sort through all of those thoughts and feelings so you can feel good about your next travels, from pre-planning to booking the trip to the trip itself. Reach out to us today to learn more.
